QUICK TAKES - June 13, 2009
Officials at the International Society of Bassists wanted new music featuring the instrument for its convention this week in Philadelphia, and one of the composers they turned to for a commission was British guitarist-singer-songwriter Richard Thompson.
Rather than dashing off a quick melody and variation, Thompson delivered an hour-plus song cycle of sorts titled “Cabaret of Souls,” the tale of a talent contest set in hell.
“Originally it was going to be eight to 10 minutes long,” he said Friday morning from Ohio after a solo performance there, “but it just got bigger and bigger and I just couldn’t help it. I thought, ‘I could abandon this and go back to the drawing board, or follow the muse and see where it takes me.’ ”
The premiere of “Cabaret of Souls” was given Wednesday. No more performances are scheduled, but Thompson said he’d like to do it again. In any case, a recording was made, so he hopes to make it available soon as a download or CD.
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Randy Lewis
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